Sunday, November 22, 2009

If I didn't know better I would think the fix is in.
With that said, I have to wonder what is worse?
That the trial is a sham, or President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder have an unequaled arrogance that may eventually blow the case against Khalid Sheikh Mohammad.

On Wednesday we noted that President Obama defended his decision to try Khalid Sheikh Mohammad as a civilian by declaring that the outcome is preordained: KSM will be convicted and put to death. This appears to be not just bluster but the administration's actual position.

------------

Attorney General Eric Holder, testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee, made a similar statement under questioning from Sen. Herb Kohl, a Wisconsin Democrat:

Kohl: But taking into account that you never know what happens when you walk into a court of law, in the event that for whatever reason they do not get convicted, what would be your next step? I'm sure you must have talked about it.

Holder: What I told the prosecutors and what I will tell you and what I spoke to them about is that failure is not an option. Failure is not an option. This--these are cases that have to be won. I don't expect that we will have a contrary result.

-------------

JAMES TARANTO: "Failure is not an option"? Is Eric Holder attorney general of the United States or some unctuous motivational speaker?

For the sake of political expediency, Obama and Holder are refusing even to make a pretense of respect for due process. If KSM & Co. are convicted and put to death, America's critics and enemies will point to Obama and Holder's assurances in arguing that the defendants were subjected to sham justice. Nice work restoring America's moral standing, Mr. President.

Service would have to be pretty bad for me to not leave a tip. If I took the radical step of not leaving a tip, I don't believe the cops should be called to arrest me.

Bethlehem couple arrested for not leaving tip at Lehigh Pub

When Leslie Pope and John Wagner decided to drop by happy hour at the Lehigh Pub in Bethlehem, Pa. with six friends, they had no idea that their visit would end with them handcuffed, in the back of a police car.The couple and their friends amassed a $73 bill that they had no problem paying, but the service was so poor that they refused to cough up the mandatory 18% tip. They say they waited almost an hour for chicken fingers and fries and Pope had to go to the bar to get napkins, silverware and refills on her soda because the server was missing in action. After explaining the service shortcomings to the bartender in charge, and offering payment for food, beverage and tax, Pope claims that the bartender took their money and called the police.When the law arrived, the couple was handcuffed, placed in the back of a police car and later charged with theft.Bethlehem’s Police Commissioner, Stuart Bedics, stated that the police would prefer to have not been involved, but the couple was arrested for theft because the gratuity was deemed a part of the bill. He does not think the charges will hold up in court.The question remains: Will the court ruling set precedent in the service industry that restaurants can arbitrarily make tipping mandatory?As it stands, parties of six or more are often times mandated to pay gratuity of anywhere from 15% to 20%.If the charges against Pope and Wagner stand and not tipping becomes an enforceable offense, will servers relax service on tables with a tip mandate to attend to those smaller parties that can stiff them at will?We will not know until Pope and Wagner appear in court next month.But until then, if you feel burned by bad service at a restaurant, think again before you choose not to tip. You may be in for more than a hard look from the server!